The parents of a 16-year-old girl, who has been missing for the last 25 days, staged a dharna outside the Naroda police station on Tuesday to protest against the alleged police inaction in the case. The family said they received a phone call on Sunday demanding a ransom of Rs 10 lakh.

The victim’s mother, Madhu, alleged that the police did not register the FIR on October 9 when the girl went missing, but registered it later on October 24.

According to the demonstrators, on October 9, before the girl went missing, Madhu had received calls from a boy.

The family had passed on the number to the police, but the latter did not investigate the matter.

The girl’s uncle got the number traced and found that the boy, Ramprasad alias Ramkaran Chowdhary of Nagor district in Rajasthan had two friends in Surat. They contacted the two boys who said the girl was in touch Chowdhary. Sources say the girl eloped with Chowdhary.

“The police had been given all the information about the accused on the day of the incident. But they neither informed the Rajasthan Police nor made any inquiries. They believe she has eloped with the boy and are therefore not interested to investigate,” said Bharat Zala, an activist.

Activist Mallika Sarabhai said missing cases involving minor girls have shot up considerably and that the police should show some sensitivity and concern for the women.

The Naroda police, however, rubbished the claim.

... contd.